Many of us believe that keeping the Lord's Day holy is important. But one question we may face from fellow Christians who are not convinced may be this: Are not we, as New Testament believers, free from the Law? Their reasoning may be along the following lines: the regulations of the Law have passed away (for example, we no longer make animal sacrifices for sins); Jesus Christ died to free us from the Law; Sabbath-keeping is part of the Law; therefore, they reason, we are not under spiritual obligation to obey the Sabbath command.

Our primary answer to such a question is the fact that God established one day in each seven as holy, thousands of years BEFORE the Law was given on Mt. Sinai. Yes, truly, we are free from having to perform the sacrifices and rituals of the Old Covenant Law (1). But because Sabbath observance was commanded by God long before the ceremonial law was ever given, the Sabbath-keeping was not nullified when the Law had its end and fulfillment in Christ (2).

When God created the heavens and the earth, He did so according to certain laws, which were to prevail for all of time: for example, day and night (3), marriage as a life-long covenant between one man and one woman (4), and murder as a gross sin (5). The Sabbath was among these "laws of creation" as God's command to keep one day in seven as holy unto Him: "Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made" (6). God expected Adam and Eve to keep the Sabbath, along with Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The holy day of weekly rest was God's permanent plan for all of mankind from the first week of creation onward.

Another important example of Sabbath-keeping predating the Law is found in Exodus chapter 16. Here we read how God gave the daily manna to the children of Israel in the wilderness. On the seventh day of each week no manna fell, for it was "...a Sabbath observance, a holy Sabbath to the LORD..." (7). No Israelite was to labor on the Sabbath in gathering manna, but to rest. Therefore, on the sixth day each one gathered twice as much. "So the people rested on the seventh day" (8). This instruction was given BEFORE Moses went up on the mountain to receive the Law, found in Exodus chapters 20 through 31.

When we are questioned by those who do not believe in Sabbath-keeping, let us be prepared to answer, but do it "...with gentleness and reverence" (9). Our responsibility is not to answer every intellectual or theological argument, but simply to obey God (10). Even though our society has lost reverence for God and for keeping His Day holy, yet we do so because He commanded it! And we have no record that He ever rescinded His command.

Some believe that in Christ's atonement the Sabbath has ceased. But this makes as little sense as saying that Jesus' finished work on the cross abolished God's Law against murder or adultery. No, Christ's death paid the penalty for sin but it did not redefine what sin was! Keeping the Lord's Day holy by rest, worship and refraining from shopping is not legalism - it is freedom. Those persons driven by their urges for success and pleasure seven days a week will soon be bound by fatigue and stress, while inner peace eludes them. In keeping the Sabbath, we honor God as being our Creator and Sovereign over all. We are not our own; we are bought with a price - the precious blood of Jesus (11). We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Thus in the Sabbath we are reminded that we are on Earth to serve His purposes, not ours. We are not free to make up our own moral definitions. And we will experience a lack of true freedom whenever we disobey God's Law.

There are many other Scriptural principles, not covered herein, which guide our Lord's Day observance. But let it never be said that our being "free from the Law" means that there is no continuing obligation to keep the Sabbath Day holy.

Scripture citations:

(1) Romans 7:6; I Corinthians 7:18, 19; Hebrews 9:1-10; 10:1-9
(2) Matthew 5:17-20; John 19:30; Romans 10:4
(3) Genesis 1:5, 8, 13-19; 8:22; Jeremiah 33:20, 25
(4) Genesis 2:18-25; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 19:3-9
(5) Genesis 1:26; 2:7; 4:12; 9:6
(6) Genesis 2:3 NASB
(7) Exodus 16:23 NASB
(8) Exodus 16:30 NASB
(9) I Peter 3:15 NASB
(10) Matthew 18:3; I Corinthians 7:19B
(11) I Corinthians 6:19, 20; I Peter 1:18, 19